Hundreds of jobs at new Ipswich mega-factory

Hayden started in 2013 as a cadet journalist on the Fraser Coast Chronicle before relocating to Fairfax Media in Tasmania three years later. Hayden joined the Queensland Times in November 2017 as a political journalist with a focus on Ipswich City Council. He has covered two state and one federal budget.

While new jobs will be created at Redbank, Coles will provide $146 million in its 2019 interim result for lease exit costs and redundancies for existing distribution centres.

The existing centres will be closed over a five-year period.

"With the signing of these important contracts, Coles is one step closer to implementing a key element of its supply chain modernisation strategy," Coles CEO Steven Cain said.

"This will provide a safer working environment for our team members, lower supply chain costs, enhance our overall business competitiveness and make life easier for our customers by having the right offer in the right location."